Oxford, England – While most COVID-19 vaccine study volunteers have no idea if they are receiving the actual vaccine or a placebo, for volunteers participating in a new study that could change the paradigm in the UK, there is no placebo. It’s not about if they had a shot, but which – or rather, which two.
According to CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata, it is the first COVID-19 vaccine study of its kind, and scientists say the results could revolutionize the future of vaccine distribution, while providing the most powerful weapon to date against variants. emerging coronavirus.
D’Agata met Reeka Trikha just as she was about to receive her first injection as part of the trial. He had no idea what was going to be shot in his arm.
“I will leave it in the capable hands of the doctors,” she said as she made the leap of faith.
The scientists behind the Oxford University study are deliberately mixing things up – testing not just one vaccine, but combining doses of two different drugs to see what happens.
More than 800 volunteers over the age of 50 participate in the process. Some are offered a “first” Pfizer photo followed by a AstraZeneca As a reminder, a second group receives AstraZeneca followed by Pfizer, and a third group of participants receives the same vaccine twice – the standard mode – for comparison.
Images are administered at both four- and twelve-week intervals in different test groups to see what works best.
“With this knowledge, we can have full confidence that a number of different vaccines can be launched and implemented in a population very quickly, very effectively, without any worries about accidental mixing of the combination,” said Professor Paul Heath, director of the vaccine. The Institute of the University of St. George of London and the lead investigator at one of the eight test sites in the UK, told CBS News.
Evidence from the study could suggest that not only Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, but potentially any combination of any COVID-19 vaccine could be safe and effective in preventing symptomatic infections. This flexibility could go a long way towards easing the inevitable supply problems that are already occurring around the world.
But it could be even better news than this: Heath says the alternative use of vaccines between an individual’s two doses could actually produce better overall protection against emerging variants of the virus.
“Potentially, with a primary boost of different vaccines, the wider response, the resulting broader immune response will be enough to cope, for example, with the South African variant,” he said, referring to a strain of virus that has shown some degree of resistance to current vaccines offered.
As unpredictable as the virus was, two future challenges are certain: global shortages will worsen and the virus will continue to move.
The results of the UK trial could give the best hope of addressing both issues.
For those who have already had a vaccine, it is not clear how long the protection will last. If we all need booster photos, research at Oxford will show us if it’s better to change the vaccine next time.